The first-ever Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS) Youth Services Volunteer Workshop was held at the YSS Noida Ashram from May 1 to 4, 2025. It brought together 125 devotees — both experienced volunteers and those newly inspired to serve — from all YSS ashrams and over 40 centres across India.
The four-day workshop, guided by YSS monastics, aimed to unite volunteers around the vision and goals of the Youth Services Department, and to train them in serving children, teens, and young sadhaks (ages 18 to 35) — all centred in the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
“This training is one of a kind and if you want to attend a training programme which will also help you to deepen your sadhana and attunement with God and guru, this is the One!”
YSS monastics and experienced volunteers led the training sessions, and mentored the participants. They also introduced the various service opportunities available across the five areas of the newly formed department:
- Community and Communication,
- Training and Content,
- Programme and Operations,
- Development of Youth Service Programmes at YSS Centres, and
- Volunteer Coordination.
“Wonderful opportunity to learn how to integrate Guruji's teachings into each session—making it more vibrant, meaningful, enjoyable, and useful for the children.”
A Balanced Programme
A three-hour meditation on the opening day and thrice-daily group meditations set a serene and receptive tone for each day’s activities.
The participants learnt that balancing sadhana and seva is essential to a devotee’s spiritual life — and that living this balance sets a powerful example for the youth they serve.
Two Learning Tracks: Children’s and Teens’ Satsanga
The workshop offered two focused learning tracks — Children’s Satsanga (CS) and Teen Satsanga (TS) — with participants grouped according to their interest and prior experience.
Within each track, volunteers were thoughtfully grouped to encourage open sharing and deeper bonding. Training covered the core principles of effective satsanga facilitation: keeping the session centred on God, preserving the purity of Gurudeva’s teachings, and expressing love, joy, and appreciation.
Volunteers also shared best practices for engaging children and teens (ages 6–17) through spiritually enriching and creative approaches. Highlights included live demonstrations of storytelling, practical guidance on leading meditations, and hands-on exercises in session planning — all tailored to the needs of young minds and hearts.
“The core principles are really valuable to prepare for the session and to focus on ‘Love and appreciation’ is wonderful. In fact, the whole training is very well organized. Really grateful for the effort and thanks to everyone involved for making this possible.”
“It [gave] us a better opportunity to think more about each and every component of a session in a structured way which will help us to assimilate Guruji's teachings and deliver it more effectively in the CS (Children Satsanga) Session.”
“The session ‘Making meditation practices interesting and engaging’ was amazing! It was a wonderful example of leading a meditation for children.”
Guideposts of Serving in Youth Services
Towards the end of the workshop, Swami Shankarananda and senior volunteers shared key guidelines in conducting youth programmes —ensuring a safe and spiritually nurturing environment where children and teens can grow in their love for God.
A Volunteer Service Opportunities Desk was also set up to help participants explore the five areas of the Youth Services Department and register their interest in serving where they felt most inspired.
Taking Home the Training
The final day outlined the next steps the volunteers could take to strengthen youth outreach once they returned to their cities. Best practices were shared on how to nurture and grow youth services at local centres, through harmonious teamwork.
A concluding satsanga, by Swami Smaranananda Giri, offered wisdom on spiritual parenting and the sacred responsibility of guiding young souls in the light of divine ideals.
The workshop ended with a period of group chanting and affirmation invoking divine blessings for the success of the newly formed Youth Services department.
“The training is one of a kind, and if you want to attend a training programme which will also help you to deepen your sadhana and attunement with God and Guru, this is the one!”
Volunteers expressed their appreciation for the blessed training opportunity and the learning experience that prepares their hearts and minds better for guiding young souls along the path to Self-realization.
“Such a well planned and thoughtful workshop ....This truly represents our Guruji’s way of working. How much he thinks about us and our little children of YSS. Blessed that Guru chose us to be divine instruments for the work that was so close to his heart. Deeply grateful to all the monks and volunteers for organizing this wonderful workshop. Everything from training to stay to food was perfect. So happy to have been a part of this amazing workshop. Heart is full."
Next Steps
- Those who wish to volunteer for Youth Services and participate in future training sessions are welcome to contact us at youthservices@yssi.org
- An online training programme for Teen Satsanga volunteers is planned for July-August in preparation for the nationwide launch of Online Teen Satsanga Programme at the end of 2025.
- Additional foundational training and facilitator skill-building workshops, are planned for the later part of this year.
Those interested in receiving training as Youth Services facilitators can fill this form to be included in future training sessions.
We look forward to continuing this sacred work — together, in Guruji’s light.
